Safety device.



M. R. HUTCHISN. SAFETY DEVICE. APPLIGATIUN FILED bulma, 1914.

1 1 30,977. Patted Mar. 9, 1915.

W/izffff: J/39952129 MILLER REESE HUTCHISN, 0F WEST lS'IJOBACrE BATTERY COMPANY, OF VOF NEW JERSEY.

ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ,Assmiroa grd ,EDISON weer ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. A comoia'rlon SAFETY DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 941915.

Application filed March 28, 1914. Serial No. 827,784.

To all whom it may Concern:

Be it known that I, MILLER Rasse HUTCHI- soN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, West Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Safety Devices, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to safety devices and more particularly to safetr devices for secondary cells or batteries, eing in some respects an improvement on the invention disclosed in Patent No. 1,116,893 granted to me on November l0, 1914, and entitled Safety devices for secondary cells.

In safety devices for storage batteries of the type disclosed in my patent referred to, gases evolved from the electrolyte of a battery are caused to pass to the outside of the battery through a body of liquid contained 'in a vessel, which vessel communicates both, with the interior of the battery container and with the outside atmosphere. This vessel has communication with the outside atmosphere above the level of the liquid therein, while communication is established between such vessel and the interior 0f the battery can or container, above the level of the electrolyte therein, either by means of an open ended pipe or tube, one end of which communicates directly with the space above the electrolyte in the battery container, while the other endv thereof is disposed Within the vessel below the level of the liquid. therein and a short distance from the bottom thereof, or by means of an opening or openings through the outer side wall of the vessel and above the level of the liquid therein. In the latter case the liquid-containing vessel is mounted within the battery can above the surface of the electrolyte and below the top of the can and is provided with a flange or sleeve disposed inside thereof and extending downwardly from 'above the level of the liquid to within a short distance of the bottom of the vessel, which flange, in effect, divides the vessel into two liquid containing chambers which communicate adjacent the bottom of the vessel. Communicib tion is established with the outside of the can, in the construction just described, by

suitable means such as a neckextending from the top of the vessel and through the top of the battery can. By experimentation I have found, however, that va safety device such as described above when applied to a storage battery has ,several objectionable features. lVhenthe battery is charged or overcharged at a high rate the electrolyte decomposes rapidly, and gives off gases in such quantities that a. foam consisting of a mass of bubbles forms on the top of` the electrolyte. These bubbles will, .under the conditions mentioned, flow outV through A the liquid of the safety device in a substantially continubus stream andfform ,in effect af d1- rect path of fiame communication through such liquid from the inside to the outside of the cell and vice versa. Moreover, the escape of these bubbles from the battery or cell results in the deposit on the outside of the cell of sulfuric acid in the case of'lead cells and caustic potash in the case of cells of the nickel-iron type, with the consequent disadvantages and dangers 'set forth in my', above mentioned patent. Also,'sho`uld`an explosion take place in the cellxor battery, 1t is very out of the liquid-containing vessel'v of the safety device, to the outside 'of the cell. Furt ermore, during tl'iecharging or rdischarging of the cell heat isgenerated therein, resulting in the expansion of vthe gas or gases above the electrolyte. Upon `discontinuing the charging or discharging'ofvthe cell the latter will cool down and the gas or 'gases above the electrolyte will accordingly contract and thereby a partial vacuum within the cell will be created. The pressure vof the atmosphere outside the battery or cell will then act to force'ithe liquid ffrom the liquid-containing vessel 'of the safety device and discharge the same into the electrolyte in the battery can, and accordingly the safeguard, intended to `be provided by the safety device, is apt to be removed when most needed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved and sim le safety device for storage batteries which will obviate these objectionable features,

apt to propel or shoot the liquid Other objects andfeatures' of my inven tion will be hereinafter more ully described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in ,which- Figure 1 is a top plan view lof an Edison cell equipped with my invention; and Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view thereof taken on line 2 2 of Figi 1, the lower portion of the cell being broken away.

In the drawings, reference character 1 indicates the battery can or container of an Edison storage battery within which are disposed the-plates or grids 2 and 3 mounted and insulated from each other in the usual the top 7 of -the manner and connected, all of the plates of one polarity with the tertminal 4 and all the plates ofthe other polarity with the terminal 5. The termlnals 4 and 5 extend through suitable=bushings 6, in the top 7, of

the containerfl, tol the outside of the container. The electrolyte within the containerA is representedby reference character 8.

' My improved safety device comprises a liquid-containing receptacle or vessel 9 which is referably mounted within the container 1, Eelow the top 7 'thereof and above the sur- `face ofthe electrolyte. The vessel 9 is rovided witha neck 10 which extends a ve battery can 1 through an opening therein. ,This opening is formed withcabeadededge 11 which is forcedv into a groove or recess formed at the junction of `'the neck. 10'and the top of the vessel 9,

wherebyr thelatter is supported by the top 7 with the latter and the to of the vessel snugly in contact, and where y a tight joint is formed between thetop 7 and the vessel 9. In the side .wall'of the vessel 9, near the top thereof, I provide Aan opening 12, whereby communication between the space in the container above the level of the electrolyte and the interior of the vessel is established.

Reference' character 13 represents a vertical partition which depends from the top of vessel 9 between the neck 1,0 and that portion of the side wall of the vessel provided with opening 12 and terminates a short distance from the bottom thereof, whereby the vessel 9 is divided into two chambers or compartments 14 and 15 which communicate below the apartition. The receptacle or vessel 9 gontains sufficient liquid, such as water or caustic potash solution, so that the surface thereof in compartments 14 and 15 is normally at the level indicated by reference character 16, this levelbeng somewhat below the opening l2 and a considerable distance above the bottom of the partition 13. Tlie opening 12 communicates with the u per portion of compartment 14 and the nec 10 vessel 9 forms a seal and that any gas escaping from the container 1 must pass through this liquid.

When the gas formed with the cell has sufficient pressure to overcome the head of llquid in vessel 9, represented by the distance partition 13 extends into the liquid, this gas will force 4the liquid in compartment 14 down to the lower edge of partition 13 and cause it to rise in compartment 15 to the level indicated by the dotted line 31. The gaswill then pass under the partitior and up through the liquid in compartment 15 and through the Voutlet or neck 10 to the outside of the cell.

I provide suitable means for breaking all bubbles of gas evolved from the electrolyte 8 before the same reach the liquid in vessel 9, This means preferably comprises a member ofl oraminous material, such as a piece of gauze 17, suitably secured to vessel 9 and covering the opening 12 therein. Moreover, if an explosion takes places within the cell, the flame is stopped at the opening 12 by the gauze, the action thereof being similar to the gauze covering the flame in the well known Davys lamp.

In order to prevent the expulsion of the liquid in the vessel 9 out throu h the neck 10 when an explosion takes p ace in the cell, I preferably provide baille plates 18 and 19 in the compartment 15, which plates are disposed above the liquid therein and prefcone or pyramid and the upper plate is preferably in the shape of an inverted fiat cone or pyramid. The two plates, therefore, appreach each other at their centers, and form, in effect, a tortuous passage between that part of chamber 15 'just above the normal evel of the liquid therein and the outlet or neck 10, and as this passage contracts to- Ward the opening 21 it will act to restrict the flow of gases therethrough from the cell. Accordingly, the liquid in the vessel 9 will not be forced out' through the neck 10 when an explosion takes place in the cell. The plates 18 and 19 also form an additional safeguard against the propagation of flame to the outside of the cell. If any bubbles should et past the gauze 17 and through the liquid in chamber 15, they will be burst in going through the holes 20 and 2l, and if any ignited gases from the interior of the cell should get as far as the baille plates, the latter would tend to absorb heat enough .romthe toV c'ool lthem down' below the lg'nltion point before they reach the outlet Moreover, plates orgn'eek 11() of the vessel 9.

""18`1a'ndfp19` also obstruct, to a considerable ture .which degree; fthe Ypropagation of llame tothe in- Side of the oell'from "the outside thereof.

My ,invention `also comprises another` feagreatly adds to its' practicalv value When the cell is'charged or dis-P charged, heat is generated therein. Then the cell afterward cools down the gas in the cell above the electrolyte contracts and its pressure falls, creating a partial vacuum. now' acts on the liquid in the vessell), and forces it down in the compartment 1 5 and up yinthe compartment 14.

Hence the liquid in =.the vessel 9 would ori dinairily be ,forced into the container 1 through ,the openingF 412. To prevent this, the partition 13 isfprovided with a very small hole 22 justbelow the normal lever 16. of theliquid, Now when the atmosphere forces' the water down yin the compartment 115, toward the level indicated by dotted line 32, and up in the compartment 14, the opening 22 vvil'l be uncovered by the liquid in the former compartment before it reaches the opening 12 inthe latter. Air can vnow pass through the opening 22 from the compartment 15 into thecompartment 14 and thence through opening 12 into the space above the electrolyte in container 1, and the partial vacuum in the latter is thereby destroyed. Accordingly, the liquid in the vessel 9, vwill not be depleted. When the cell is gassing, and the level of the liquid in the vessel 9 has been forced below the level of 4opening 22 in the compartment 14, some gas may passthrough the hole 22 into the compartment 15, but the quantity of this gas will he small and it will have to go through a certain depth of the liquid before it reaches the outlet or neck 10. Also, some of the liquid may trickle from the compartment 15 through the hole 22 down to the liquid in the compartment 14 at this time, but the quantity thereof will be negligible and .not sufficient to restore the liquid in the two compartments to the same level. Hence the presence of the hole 22 does not interfere with the successful operation of my improved Safety device. The neck l0 is preferably provided with a counterbalanced, preferably spring-pressed, cap or cover. As shown, the neck has a reduced outer end portion towhich .is suitably secured a ring 23. This ring has a lateral exvtension provided with upturned lugs 24.

of the spring pressing against the rear edge.

of lug 26 when the cap' is closed,` the etifect' of the spring'b'eing to hold the cap 'or cover in that position.r When the cap 'is "opened, thefree endof the spring 28 yslides:around the extension provided on the'cap-l and presses against the top thereofftohold the cap in open; position. Theouter edge ofthe@ neck 10 isp'rovided with recesses `1or"n'otches 30 to allow air to flow freely into the vessel 9 when the vcap is closed. The cap 2.5 will be thrown open by the force of an explosion within the cell and thereby serve as an indicator of the fact of the explosion.

VThe top 7 of the container or can l is preferably provided with a filling` opening 35, which is normally closed by a cap 36. The cell may be replenished with electrolyte both through the filling opening 35 and the'vessel 9. The removal of cap 36 permits gas to escape from the cell through the filling opening and thereby the passageof electrolyte through the vessel 9, toA the interior of thecontainer 1. In its passage through vessel 9, the fresh electrolyte will act to Wash the potash or other materials deposited therein back into the cell.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a safety device adapted to act as such under all conditionsV that have to be reckoned with in storage battery practice: An explosion cannot be propagated through the safety device, either from the inside of the cell or from without; an explosion within the cell cannot expel the liquid from the safety device; and the pressure of the atmosphere is prevented from forcing the liquid of the safety device into the battery can or container upon the gradual decrease of the pressure within the cell as the same cools down.

While I have shown and described my improved safety device as applied to a storage battery, it is evident that the same is adapted for general use with sealed containers containing explosive or combustible materials to control the escape of gases therefrom. The description and drawing are `illustrative only, and itis to be understood that my invention is not restricted to the single embodiment disclosed herein', but.

that many changes in theY shape, size and arrangement of the parts thereof may be made Without any departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. f

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows y 1. The combination with a battery cell, of a lluid-containing vessel, said vessel having connections with said cell which cause gases which escape from said cell to pass through the fluid in said vessel, and means for preventing the expulsion of the Huid from said vessel by an explosion within said cell, substantially as described 2. The combination with a receptacle, of a fluidcontaining vessel having connections with said receptacle which cause gases escaping from said receptacle to pass through the fluid in said vessel, said vessel being provided with means for preventing depletion of the fluid therein when the pressure within said receptacle falls below the pressure outside thereof, substantially as described.

3. A safety device for storage batteries and the like, comprising a fluid-containing ,vessel havin an inlet and an outlet above Vthe normal le means whereby gas assing from the inlet to the outlet is caused to pass through said fluid, said vessel being provided with means for preventing the depletion of the fluid therein when the pressure at the outlet exceeds that at the inlet, substantially as described.

4. A safety device for storage batteries and the like, comprising a fluidcontaining vessel having an inlet and an outlet above the normal level of the fluid therein and a vertical partition extending into said fluid and disposed between said inlet and outlet, said partition terminating above the bottom of said vessel and being provided with a small opening below the normal level of the fluid, substantially as described.

5. In a storage battery, the combination with the container thereof, of a fluid-containing vessel supported by said container and communicating with the outside thereof, said vessel having an opening above the level of the liquid therein'to establish communication with the interior of said container, and foraminous means disposed over said opening, substantially as described.

6. A safety device for storage batteries and the like, comprising a fluid-containing vessel having a pair of compartments communicatin adjacent the bottom of the vessel, one o said compartments being provided vvith an inlet and the other of said compartments being provided with an outlet, said inlet'and outlet both being'above the normal level of the fluid in said vessel, and means for preventing fluid from being expelled from said vessel through said outlet upon the sudden application of pressure to the fluid through said inlet, substantially as described.

l7. A safety 'device for storage batteries and the like, comprising a fluid-containing vessel havin an inlet and an outlet above the normal devel of the fluid therein and means whereby gas passing from the i let to the outlet is caused to pass throug said fluid, and means forpreventing the fluid from being expelled from said vessel through the outlet upon the sudden application of pressure t the inlet, substantially as described.

vel of the fluid therein, and

, sel vided with an inlet and the other of said containing 8. A safety device for Stora batteries and the like, comprising' a flui -cqntaining vessel having a pair of compartments communicating adjacent the bottom of the vessel, one of said com artments bein provided with an inlet and t e other of sai compartments being provided with an outlet, said inlet opening into saidl vessel above the normal level of the fluid therein, and means in said last compartment providing a totuous con-` tracting passa e therein between the normal level of the uid and the outlet, substantially as described.

9. A safety deviceffor storage batteries. and the like, comprising a fiuideontainng vessel having a pair of compartments communicatin ad'acent the bottom of the vessel, one o said compartments being pro-k vided with an inlet and the other ofsaid compartments being provided with an outlet, said inlet outlet both beintg above the normal level of the fluid in sai vessel, and a. pluralit of baille plates in said last compartment etween the normal level of the fluid and the outlet, said plates being provided with4 non-registering apertures, substantiall as described.

10. A sa ety device for stora e batteries and the like, comprising a ui -containing vessel having a pair of compartments communicatin adjacent the bottom of the ves- 'one o said compartments being procompartments being provided with an outlet, said inlet and outlet both; being above the jnormal level of the fluid in said vessel, and a pair of lates in saidlast compartment between t e normal level of the fluid and the outlet, said plates having non-registering apertures and converging to form a passage for the flow of Iasto said outlet which contracts in the dgirection of such flow, substantially as described.

11. 'In a storage battery, the combination with the container thereof, of a fluid-containing vessel having an outlette the outside of said container and having connections with the latter which cause gas escaping from the container to ss tosaid outlet through the fluid in sai -vessel, the latter being provided with a plurality of baille plates above the normal level of said fluid, substantially as described.`

12. In a storage battery, the combination with the container thereof, of a fluidvessel having an outlet to the outside o said containerand havingV connections with4 the latter which cause gas escaping from the container to pass to said outlet through the fluid in said vessel, the latter being provided with a plurality of baille plates above the normal level of said fluid, said baille plates having non-regis- 13. In a storage battery, the combination with the container thereof, of a lluidin the vessel and said outlet, said partition containing vessel supported by said conhaving an opening therethrough below the talner, a partition extending downwardly normal level of said fluid, substantially as from the top of the vessel and terminating described. 15 5 Short of the bottom thereof, said vessel hav- This specification Signed and witnessed ing an iilet oi one side of sail partition this 26th day of March 1914. leadin rom tie container, an an outlet w 0n thegother Side of the partition leading to MILLER REESE HUTLHISON' the outside of the vessel, foraminous means Witnesses: 10 over said inlet, and a plurality of baffle WILLIAM A. HARDY,

plates between the normal level of the fluid MARY J. LAIDLAW.

Correctlons ln Letters Patent No. l,l30,977.

It is hereby certiled that in Letters Patent No. 1,130,977, granted March 9, 1915, upon the application of Miller Reese Hutchison, of YVest Orange, New Jersey, for an improvement in Safety Devices, errors appear in the printed specication requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 90, for the word places read place; page 3, line 2l, for the Word lever7 read level; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform t0 the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of March, A.. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting of Patents. 

